KR20190127792A - Apparatus and Methods for the Treatment of Substrates by a Large Number of Solid Particles - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for use in the treatment of a substrate by a solid particulate material, the apparatus comprising: (a) a housing in which a rotatably mounted drum (8) having an inner surface and an end wall is mounted; And (b) access means for introducing the substrate into the drum, the drum having a storage means (2) for storage of the solid particulate material and between the storage means and the interior of the drum (8). In an apparatus comprising a plurality of flow paths that facilitate the flow of the solid particulate material, the drum 8 dispenses to facilitate the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum 8. A flow passage 5 and a collection flow passage 6 which facilitates the flow of the particulate matter from the interior of the drum 8 to the storage means 2, the distribution flow passage 5 and the collection flow passage. (6) is characterized by being a different flow path.

Description

Apparatus and Methods for the Treatment of Substrates by a Large Number of Solid Particles

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus employing a plurality of solid particles in the treatment of a substrate, in particular a substrate which is or comprises a textile. The present disclosure also relates to the operation of the apparatus for the treatment of substrates using solid particles. The present invention relates in particular to an apparatus and method for cleaning contaminated substrates.

Conventional methods for the treatment and cleaning of textiles and fabrics typically involve aqueous cleaning with large amounts of water. These methods generally involve aqueous dipping of the fabric followed by stain removal, aqueous stain suspension, and washing with water. The use of solid particles to provide improvements and similar advantages to these conventional methods is known in the art. For example, PCT patent publication WO2007 / 128962 discloses a method for cleaning contaminated substrates using a plurality of solid particles. Other PCT patent publications with related disclosures of cleaning methods are disclosed in WO2012 / 056252; WO2014 / 006424; WO2015 / 004444; WO2014 / 147390; WO2014 / 147391; WO2014 / 06425; WO2012 / 035343 and WO2012 / 167545. These disclosures compare to conventional methods that include improved treatment / cleaning performance, reduced water consumption, reduced consumption of detergents and other treatments, and better cold treatment / cleaning (and thus more energy efficient treatment / cleaning). An apparatus and method are described for treating or cleaning a substrate that provides some advantages. Other patent applications, for example WO2014 / 167358, WO2014 / 167359, WO2016 / 05118, WO / 2016/055789 and WO2016 / 055788, teach the advantages provided by solid particles in other fields such as leather processing and tanning. .

It would be desirable to provide even better apparatus for treatment methods involving the use of a large number of solid particles. In particular, efficiency is further reduced in order to further reduce water consumption, facilitate quieter operation, improve fabric management and / or reduce the power consumption and cost (including capital and / or operating costs) of the device and its operation. And it would be desirable to improve reliability. It would also be desirable to reduce the complexity of the device and the number of mobile components therein. It would also be desirable to retrofit the conventional apparatus to be suitable for operation with a large number of solid particles. It is an object of the present invention to solve one or more of the above mentioned problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in the treatment of a substrate by solid particulate material, the apparatus comprising:

(a) A housing in which a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall is mounted therein; And

(b) Access means for introducing the substrate into the drum,

Wherein said drum comprises storage means for storage of said solid particulate material and a plurality of flow paths for facilitating flow of said solid particulate material between said storage means and the interior of said drum,

The drum includes a distribution flow passage that facilitates the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum, and a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of the particulate material from the interior of the drum to the storage means. The distribution flow path and the collection flow path may be different flow paths.

In the device of the invention, the flow of solid particulate material from the storage means towards the interior of the drum is preferably facilitated by the rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction and / or the solid particulate from the interior of the drum towards the storage means. The flow of material is facilitated by the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, where the rotation in the dispensing direction is the opposite direction of rotation in the collecting direction.

Thus, the device may or may not comprise additional storage means attached to the drum or not integral with the drum. Similarly, the apparatus may be omitted or preferably a pump for circulating the solid particulate material between the storage means and the interior of the drum (ie from the storage means to the interior of the drum and from the interior of the drum to the storage means). do not include. Preferably, the device may be omitted or preferably does not comprise a pump for circulating said solid particulate material.

In addition, the amount of water used for the treatment of the substrate can be further reduced compared to conventional treatments using solid particulate material, since no water is needed to transport the solid particulate material around the device. Thus, the apparatus and method of the present invention only require water as the liquid medium in the treatment of the substrate, which provides a significant reduction in water consumption.

A further advantage of the storage means located in the rotatable drum is that the solid particulate material can be centrifugally dried, ie the solid particulate material can undergo one or more rotational cycles of drying the particles. Centrifugal drying of the solid particulate material may be separate from or included in the operation of the apparatus for processing the substrate. For example, centrifugal drying may be performed concurrently with the extraction step (s) to remove the liquid medium, as described below. Thus, the method described below for treating a substrate optionally includes a step of centrifugal drying of the solid particulate material. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the advantage of the present invention is the dry storage of solid particulate material.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing passage and / or the storage means is at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten times in the dispensing direction to initiate discharging the solid particulate material into the interior of the drum. Configured to rotate. Advantageously, this facilitates separation and entanglement of the substrate in the drum. This also facilitates the controlled release of the solid particulate material during the treatment cycle and enables increased and more consistent exposure of the substrate to the solid particulate material, thereby improving treatment performance and efficiency.

It will be appreciated that the flow rate of the solid particulate material between the storage means and the interior of the drum can be additionally or alternatively controlled by varying the rotational speed of the drum in the dispensing or collection direction and / or by intermittently rotating the drum. Similarly, the speed of the flow of solid particulate material between the storage means and the interior of the drum can be additionally or alternatively controlled by changing the direction of rotation of the drum. Thus, a given step in the processing cycle may include the number of revolutions n in the collecting direction and may further comprise the number of revolutions m in the dispensing direction, where n and m are different or different from integers or non-integers. Are independently selected, thus leading to a net increase or decrease in the amount of solid particulate material inside the storage means and the drum.

The device is preferably a front-loading device and the access means is arranged in front of the device. Preferably, the access means is a door or comprises a door. It will be appreciated that the drum has an opening at the opposite end of the drum relative to the end wall, suitably the opening being aligned with the access means, through which the substrate is introduced into the drum.

The rotatable drum is preferably cylindrical, but other configurations are also envisaged, including, for example, hexagonal drums.

Thus, the inner surface of the drum is preferably a cylindrical inner surface.

The inner surface of the drum is the surface of the inner wall (s) of the drum. The inner wall (s) of the drum are joined to the end wall of the drum at the junction of the inner and end walls. Thus, the inner surface is the surface of the inner wall of the drum disposed around the drum's axis of rotation, ie substantially perpendicular to the end wall of the drum.

For cylindrical drums, the axis of the cylindrical drum is preferably the axis of rotation of the drum. More generally, the inner and end walls of the drum form a three-dimensional volume in which the end wall bisects the axis of rotation of the drum, preferably substantially vertically, and the inner wall (s) around the axis of rotation. The inner wall is preferably substantially parallel to the axis of rotation.

The inner surface of the drum preferably allows the passage of fluid into and out of the drum but prevents the outflow of the solid particulate material, as is conventional in most of the prior art devices suitable for the treatment of substrates by solid particulate material. Perforations having dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material. Preferably, the housing of the device is a tub surrounding the drum, preferably the tub and the drum are substantially concentric, and preferably the walls of the tub are not perforated but inside the tub. And one or more inlets and / or one or more outlets suitable for passage of the liquid medium and / or one or more treatment agent (s) therefrom. Thus, the tub is suitably waterproof and allows the inflow and outflow of the liquid medium and other liquid components only through the pipe or duct components.

Advantageously, during operation of the apparatus of the present invention, neither the drum nor the tub permits the inflow or outflow of solid particulate material held by the drum throughout the treatment cycle, whereby the substrate is processed in the apparatus. That is, the solid particulate material is retained in the storage means and / or in the drum and / or between the storage means and the interior of the drum throughout the processing cycle, thereby eliminating the need for a pump to circulate the particulate material. Remove

The device preferably comprises a seal between the access means and the tub such that in use the liquid medium cannot exit the tub.

The apparatus preferably further comprises typical components present in the apparatus suitable for the treatment of the substrate by solid particulate material in liquid medium and / or in combination with one or more treatment agent (s) as described in more detail below. Include. Thus, the device preferably comprises at least one pump for circulation of the liquid medium and an associated port for conveying the liquid medium and / or one or more treatment agent (s) into the device, into the drum, out of the drum, and out of the device. Or tubing and / or ducts. Preferably, the apparatus comprises suitable drive means for carrying out the rotation of the drum, and suitably a drive shaft for carrying out the rotation of the drum. Preferably, the apparatus comprises heating means for heating the liquid medium. Preferably, the device comprises mixing means for mixing the liquid medium with one or more treatment agent (s). The apparatus may further comprise one or more spraying means for applying the liquid medium and / or one or more treatment formulation (s) into and onto the drum during processing of the substrate.

The device typically further comprises an outer casing surrounding the tub and drum.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus further comprises control means programmed with instructions for operation of the apparatus according to at least one processing cycle. The apparatus suitably further comprises a control means and / or a user interface for interacting with the apparatus.

The device preferably comprises said solid particulate material.

The collecting flow path for the solid particulate material preferably comprises a collecting opening, wherein the drum is configured to deflect the solid particulate material present in the drum toward the collecting opening during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction.

Similarly, the dispensing passage comprises a dispensing opening, the drum being configured to deflect the solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or dispensing passage towards the dispensing opening during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction.

In conventional devices as well as in devices configured to treat substrates using solid particulate materials, it is known to place one or more so-called "lifters" on the inner surface of the drum. These lifters facilitate circulation and agitation of the contents (ie, substrate (s), treating agent and solid particulate material) in the drum during rotation of the drum. These lifters preferably take the form of a plurality of spaced elongated protrusion (s) attached to the inner surface of the drum. Typically, an elongate protrusion is disposed on the inner surface of the drum such that the long dimension of the protrusion is essentially perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the drum. Thus, the elongate protrusions preferably extend in a direction away from the end wall, preferably from the end wall. Thus, the elongate protrusion has an end near the end wall and an end far from the end wall.

The drum preferably has at least one elongate protrusion, preferably 2 to 10, preferably 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, preferably 2, 3 or 4, and preferably 3 Or four such protrusions. For home washing machines, three projections are most preferred. In the case of a commercial washing machine, 5 or 6 protrusions, preferably 6 protrusions, are most preferred. When a plurality of elongate protrusions are located on the inner surface of the drum, all of the elongate protrusions typically have the same or substantially the same dimensions as each other. In alternative embodiments, the plurality of elongate protrusions may have elongate protrusions of different dimensions, that is, one or more elongate protrusions of a first size and / or shape and one or more elongate protrusions of a second size and / or shape. have.

In the device of the invention, the collecting flow passage preferably comprises a collecting opening located at its proximal end in the elongate protrusion.

Optionally, the collection flow path may further comprise a collection groove along at least a portion of the elongate protrusion, wherein the collection groove is configured to collect the solid particulate material during rotation in the collection direction, wherein the solid particulate material is in the collection direction. During further rotation it is biased towards the collecting opening.

Preferably, the dispensing flow passage comprises a dispensing opening positioned at its distal end in the elongated protrusion or closer to its distal end than its proximal end. The dispensing opening of the elongate protrusion may alternatively be located from approximately midway of the elongate protrusion from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongate protrusion. The elongate protrusion may have a plurality of dispensing openings that are suitably spaced along the length of the elongate protrusion from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongate protrusion, and this embodiment provides a more even distribution of the solid particulate material into the drum. To promote.

Preferably, the dispensing flow path is at least partially located in the elongate protrusion.

The elongate protrusion (s) and / or drum are preferably configured to deflect the solid particulate material present inside the drum during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction towards the collecting flow path, in particular towards the end wall.

In a preferred arrangement, the elongate protrusions are curved and configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the collecting opening located at its proximal end in the elongate protrusions during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Preference is given to curved elongated protrusions having a spiral or helical geometry. The term "spiral or helical spiral geometry" refers to a three-dimensional vortex curve that also includes an arc of a complete vortex or helical spiral curve.

In a further preferred configuration, the elongate protrusions are straight.

The drum may include both curved and straight elongated protrusions, but typically the drum includes curved or straight elongated protrusions.

Preferably, the drum is arranged in the device such that the axis of the drum is substantially parallel. In a preferred embodiment, the drum is arranged in the apparatus such that the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal during at least part of the operation of the apparatus.

The apparatus and / or drum (particularly the drum) is also preferably arranged such that, as is known in the art, the axis of the drum relative to the horizontal plane is before, during or after the treatment of the substrate in the apparatus, preferably the treatment or part thereof. Can be tilted so that it can be varied during the rotation, in particular during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Tilting can be accomplished by any suitable means including, for example, air bags, hydraulic rams, pneumatic pistons and / or electric motors. In this embodiment, the drum and / or device is preferably tiltable such that the axis of the drum forms an angle A that is greater than 0 and less than about 10 ° with respect to the horizontal plane. In this embodiment, the drum and / or the device is preferably configured to be tiltable to tilt in a downward direction from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum during at least part of the treatment, in particular during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. . Thus, the apparatus provides for at least a portion of the process (especially during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction) such that the axis of the drum forms an angle A that is greater than 0 and less than 10 ° with respect to the horizontal plane and the drum from the front of the drum. It is preferably configured to be inclined in a downward direction to the end wall of the drum.

A device in which the axis of the drum is tiltable is used especially when the elongate protrusions are straight, so that the deflection of promoting solid particulate material present in the drum during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction towards the collecting flow path, in particular towards the end wall Provided by the tilt of the drum.

The use of curved elongate protrusions is particularly useful for devices in which the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal, in particular the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal during operation of the device.

The elongate protrusions may be configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the collection flow path and / or the end wall during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction in addition to or alternatively to that described above. This configuration is described below.

In one preferred embodiment, referred to hereinafter as " flow-under ", the elongate protrusions are such that one or more angled channels are present between the underside of the elongate protrusion and the inner surface of the drum, or the elongate protrusions. Is present through the elongate protrusion at one or more position (s) where it meets the inner surface of the drum such that one boundary wall of the angled channel is disposed on the inner surface of the drum to represent a surface that is continuous to the inner surface of the drum. The angled channel allows solid particulate material to flow down or through the elongate protrusions such that the outlet point of the angled channel is closer to the end wall of the drum than the entry point of the angled channel during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. The entry point of the angled channel is located on the first side of the elongate protrusion and the exit point of the angled channel is located on the opposite second side of the elongate protrusion. The first side of the elongate protrusion is the tip side of the elongate protrusion during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. During rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, the solid particulate material is deflected towards the entry point of the first side of the first elongate protrusion, passes through the angled channel, and exits the angled channel of the second side of the first elongate protrusion. Out of the point. By doing so, the solid particulate material is close to the end wall of the drum, so that the next elongate protrusion in contact with the solid particulate material in the trajectory in the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, ie the first elongate protrusion at the inner surface of the drum. It is close to the collection path present in the second elongate protrusions spaced from it, thereby improving the collection efficiency of the solid particulate material. One or more angled channels may be associated with each elongate protrusion, and if a plurality of angled channels are associated with a single elongate protrusion, they are disposed along all or part of the length of the elongate protrusion. The angled channel is preferably such that the channel is at least about 10 °, preferably at least about 20 °, preferably at least about 30 ° and about 80 ° or less, preferably 70 ° or less, preferably at least about 10 ° with the rear wall of the drum. It is disposed under or in the elongate protrusions to form an angle of about 60 degrees or less, typically about 50 degrees or less. Preferably, the angle of the channel is defined here as a straight line between the entry point and the exit point of the channel. The path of the channel may be straight or have a curved configuration, for example straight or curved, typically straight. If the path is curved, the channel is preferably curved towards the end wall of the drum. Under-flow embodiments may be used where the axis of rotation of the drum is horizontal, inclined or tiltable during rotation of the device, but is particularly useful in devices where the axis of rotation of the drum is substantially horizontal.

In a further preferred embodiment, referred to hereinafter as a "herringbone" embodiment, the elongate protrusions are disposed at their first side at one or more position (s) from their proximal end to the distal end. (S), wherein the first side of the elongate protrusion is the tip side of the elongate protrusion during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Preferably, the elongate protrusions comprise a plurality of collection openings disposed on the first side thereof. The second side of the elongate protrusion is the rear end side of the elongate protrusion during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction; It will be appreciated that the second side of the elongate protrusion does not include a collection opening. The collection opening (s) of the present embodiment is preferably added to the collection opening located at the elongate protrusion at the proximal end of the elongate protrusion described above. The collecting opening (s) of the herringbone embodiment are located at the base of or under the elongate protrusion and configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the collecting flow path and storage means during rotation of the drum, in particular during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. In fluid communication with the collection passage through a series of open compartments. The base of the elongate protrusion is the surface of the elongate protrusion juxtaposed with the inner surface of the drum.

In a herringbone embodiment, the series of open compartments is formed by vanes of a first series and vanes of a second series, the vanes of the first and second series being disposed along at least a portion of the length of the elongate protrusion, The vanes of the first series are arranged in a staggered arrangement opposite, interlocking but not in contact with the vanes of the second series to provide a tortuous path from the collection opening to the collection flow path.

In a herringbone embodiment, the vanes of the second series are preferably substantially parallel to each other. Preferably, the continuous vanes of the second series are arranged in a U shape, each U shape having a distal wall close to the distal end of the elongate protrusion and a proximal wall close to the proximal end of the elongate protrusion. The vanes of the second series thus form a series of adjacent U shapes, preferably comprising a first U shape and a second U shape and optionally one or more subsequent U shape (s), wherein the first U shape The shape is closer to the distal end of the elongate protrusion than the second adjacent U shape, preferably the first U-shaped proximal wall is the same wall as the adjacent second U-shaped distal wall. Thus, for example, the first U-shaped proximal wall closest to the distal end of the elongate protrusion is preferably the same wall as the adjacent second U-shaped distal wall closest to the proximal end of the elongate protrusion. The second series of vanes is suitably disposed adjacent to the second side of the elongate protrusion, so that preferably the U-shaped base is or is juxtaposed with the inner surface of the second side of the elongate protrusion; In other words, the U-shaped inlet faces towards the inside of the elongate protrusion and during the rotation in the collecting direction and inwards in the direction of rotation of the drum. Preferably, the vanes of the second series form a series of inclined adjacent U shapes with the inclinations of the distal and proximal ends of the U shape towards the distal ends of the elongate protrusions.

In a herringbone embodiment, the vanes of the first series are preferably arranged in a series of U shapes, each U shape having a distal wall close to the distal end of the elongate protrusion and a proximal wall close to the proximal end of the elongate protrusion. . The first series of vanes is suitably disposed adjacent to the first side of the elongate protrusion, so that preferably the U-shaped base is or is juxtaposed with the inner surface of the first side of the elongate protrusion; In other words, the U-shaped inlet faces the inside of the elongate protrusion during rotation in the collecting direction and inward in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drum. Like the second series of vanes, the first series of vanes may form a series of adjacent U shapes comprising a first U shape and a second U shape and optionally one or more subsequent U shape (s), The first U shape is closer to the distal end of the elongate protrusion than the second adjacent U shape, and the proximal wall of the first U shape is the same wall as the distal wall of the adjacent second U shape. Preferably, however, the vanes of the first series form a series of U shapes, and at least one (preferably each) pair of adjacent U shapes is not adjacent to each other and at least one of the adjacent U shapes ( Preferably each pair is interrupted by a collection opening in the first wall of the elongate opening, with the collecting opening being arranged in the first wall of the elongate protrusion separating the pair of adjacent U shapes. Preferably, a plurality of collection openings are arranged in the first wall of the elongate protrusion. In this preferred arrangement, the plurality of collection openings on the first side of the elongate protrusion provide a plurality of points of entry into the collection flow path along a number of points of entry into the series of open compartments, thereby significantly improving the collection efficiency. . Preferably, the U-shape formed by the vanes of the second series includes a distal wall that slopes toward the distal wall of the elongate protrusion and a proximal wall that slopes toward the proximal wall of the elongate protrusion.

In a herringbone embodiment, the U-shaped series formed by the vanes of the first series are arranged in a staggered arrangement opposite, interlocking but not in contact with the U-shaped series formed by the vanes of the second series. The U shape formed by any pair of vanes of the first or second series need not be symmetrical and is typically asymmetrical.

In the herringbone embodiment, during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, the solid particulate material enters the collection opening disposed on the first side of the elongate protrusion and passes into one of the open sections of the series of open sections of the herringbone embodiment, in particular The solid particulate material passes into the U shape formed by the vanes of the second series. During rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, the solid particulate material is transferred into the opposing and staggered U shapes formed by the vanes of the first series, the opposing and staggered U shapes by the vanes of the second series through which the solid particulate materials are delivered. It is closer to the proximal end of the elongate protrusion than the U-shape formed. Upon further rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, the solid particulate passes into an additional U shape formed by the vanes of the second series, wherein the additional U shape formed by the vanes of the second series is passed through the solid particulate material. Closer to the proximal end of the elongate protrusion than the U-shape formed by the vanes of the first series. Thus, the solid particulate material is deflected toward the collecting flow path.

Herringbone embodiments may be used when the drum's axis of rotation is substantially horizontal, inclined, or tiltable during operation of the device, but is particularly useful in devices where the drum's axis of rotation is substantially horizontal.

The drum, in particular its inner surface, may also be configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the collecting flow path and / or the end wall during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction in addition to or alternatively to the above. In particular, the inner surface of the drum is for example attached to or integrally formed therewith to increase the deflection of the solid particulate material towards the collecting flow path and / or the end wall of the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. It can be textured or contoured by Such guiding elements are intended and configured to facilitate the flow of solid particulate material towards the end walls of the drum, and therefore three primary purposes are to promote agitation of the solid particulate material and the substrate to be treated by any treatment and / or liquid medium. It is distinguished from an elongated protrusion. Thus, the guide element is considerably smaller in depth than the elongate protrusion, where the "depth" refers to the maximum height above or below the inner surface of the drum. Thus, the guide elements which rise from the inner surface of the drum extend into the interior of the drum much less than the elongate protrusions. Preferably, the depth of the guide element is defined with reference to the longest dimension of the solid particulate material, preferably the depth of the guide element is at least as long as the longest dimension of the solid particulate material, preferably of the size of the longest dimension of the solid particulate material. It has a dimension of at least twice, preferably about 5 times or less, preferably about 4 times or less. Preferably, the depth of the guide element is 90% or less, preferably 80% or less, preferably 70% or less, preferably 60% or less, preferably 50% or less, preferably 90% or less of the elongate protrusions. 40% or less, preferably 30% or less, preferably 20% or less, and preferably at least 1%, preferably at least 5% of the depth of the elongate protrusion.

One useful embodiment of the guide element includes one or more ribs disposed on the inner surface of the drum. In another useful embodiment, the guide element comprises one or more grooves disposed on the inner surface of the drum. When one or more elongate protrusions are disposed on the inner surface of the drum, the one or more rib (s) and / or the one or more groove (s) are preferably disposed between adjacent elongate protrusions. Advantageously, the ribs or grooves direct the solid particulate material away from the front of the drum (and away from the first elongate protrusion) during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction and towards the end wall of the drum (and the first). Oriented toward the second elongate protrusion spaced apart from the first elongate protrusion. The ribs or grooves may extend across the inner surface with respect to all or a portion of the distance between adjacent elongate protrusions, and typically the ribs or grooves are a portion of the distance between adjacent elongate protrusions, typically adjacent Extends across the inner surface only for about 5% to about 95%, or about 10% to about 80% of the distance between the elongate protrusions. As such, the ribs or grooves deflect the solid particulate material towards the end wall during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. The ribs or grooves are disposed at an angle that is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the end wall (and at an angle to the elongate protrusion, where there is an elongate protrusion). In particular, the rib or groove is arranged such that the tip of the rib or groove during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction is closer to the front of the drum than the rear end of the rib or groove during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. The rib or groove is preferably at least about 10 °, preferably at least about 20 °, preferably at least about 30 ° and about 80 ° or less, preferably 70 ° or less, preferably about 60 ° with the end wall of the drum. It forms an angle of about or less, typically about 50 or less. Preferably, the angle of the rib or groove is here formed as a straight line between the beginning of the rib or groove and the end of the rib or groove. Ribs or grooves on or within the inner surface of the drum may form a straight or curved path. It will be appreciated that the inner surface of the cylindrical surface is curved, so that the term "straight path" will be understood as a path that follows the curvature of the surface of the drum linearly between two points on the curved inner surface of the drum, The term "curving path" herein will be understood as a path that follows the curvature of the inner surface of the drum and also curves in additional dimensions across the inner surface of the drum. If the path is a curved path, the rib or groove is preferably curved towards the end wall of the drum. Combinations of rib (s) and groove (s) can be used. The plurality of ribs and / or the plurality of grooves are at least partially across the region of the drum's front surface and bordered by the end wall of the drum and by adjacent elongate protrusions where an elongate protrusion is present. It can be arranged across the area of the inner surface of the drum bordered by. The ribs disclosed in this example preferably do not include perforations that are not perforated or that are sized to the extent of any dimension of the solid particulate material therein.

In the rib embodiment described above, the profile of the rib is preferably configured to retain the solid particulate material during deflection of the solid particulate material towards the end wall of the drum. Thus, the edge of the rib, which is the leading edge during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, preferably comprises a collecting groove extending at least partially along the length of the rib, preferably substantially along the entire length of the rib.

A further useful embodiment of the guide element is a perforated diverting rib disposed on the inner surface of the drum, preferably between adjacent elongated protrusions. The perforated diverting ribs are preferably arranged on the inner surface of the drum to extend in a direction away from the end wall of the drum and towards the front of the drum. That is, the perforated diverting ribs generally extend in a direction substantially parallel to the drum's axis of rotation and / or substantially parallel to the elongate protrusions. The perforated switching ribs are formed by a first edge during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction and a second edge during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Each of the first and second edges has one or more openings therein. The perforated transition rib includes a plurality of angled channels connecting the opening (s) on the first edge with the opening (s) on the second edge. Where the perforated diverting rib meets the inner surface of the drum, the opening (s) and the angled channel are preferably arranged such that one boundary wall of the angled channel (ie the base of the channel) represents a surface that is continuous to the inner surface of the drum. These angled channels operate on the same principle as the angled channels of the "under-flow" embodiment described above. The exit point from the angular channel of the second edge of the rib is closer to the end wall of the drum than the entry point into the angular channel of the rib, whereby the solid particulate material is released from the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Allow the solid particulate material to flow through the perforated diverting ribs to deflect towards the end wall to improve the collection efficiency of the solid particulate material. The plurality of angled channels may be disposed along all or part of the length of the perforated transition ribs. The angled channel is preferably at least about 10 degrees, preferably at least about 20 degrees, preferably at least about 30 degrees, and about 80 degrees or less, preferably 70 degrees or less, preferably about 60 degrees with the rear wall of the drum. It forms an angle of about or less, typically about 50 or less. Preferably, the angle of the channel is here formed as a straight line between the entry point and the exit point of the channel. The passage of the channel can have a straight or curved configuration, for example can be straight or curved, and typically straight. If the path is curved, the channel is preferably curved towards the end wall of the drum. Perforated switching ribs are used when the drum's axis of rotation can be substantially horizontal, inclined or tiltable during operation of the device, but is particularly useful for devices where the drum's axis of rotation is substantially horizontal.

In the apparatus of the invention, the storage means and / or any elongate protrusion (s) are preferably configured to deflect the solid particulate material present in the storage means towards the dispensing flow path during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. If the device comprises an elongate protrusion having a dispensing opening located at its distal end or closer to the distal end than at its proximal end at least one elongate protrusion, the storage means and / or the elongated protrusion (s) are preferably preferred. Preferably, during the rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction, the solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or dispensing flow path is deflected towards the dispensing opening of the elongate protrusion.

Preferably, the dispensing flow passage generally comprises a series of open compartments located in the elongated protrusion, the solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or the dispensing flow passage during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. It may be described as being configured to deflect toward the dispensing opening.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing flow passage comprises an Archimedean screw arrangement positioned at the elongate protrusion. As the drum rotates in the dispensing direction, the solid particulate material in the dispensing passage is pressed by the inner surface of the Archimedean screw along the dispensing passage and towards the dispensing opening and into the drum. Thus, only as a result of the rotation of the drum, particulate matter can be conveyed back from the storage means back into the drum. In one embodiment, the Archimedean screw can be motorized, but preferably the inner surface of the Archimedean screw is static with respect to the inner wall of the drum, ie the inner surface of the Archimedean screw preferably does not rotate independently of the rotation of the drum.

It is appropriate that the inner surface of the Archimedean screw has a conventional round and / or smooth arrangement. Alternatively or additionally, the Archimedes screw is straight and has a stepped surface along at least a portion of its length. Similarly, the cross section of the Archimedean screw is suitably circular, but other cross sections, in particular multilobal cross sections such as trilobite or tetralobite, are envisaged. Trilobite cross-sections are particularly useful because the elongate protrusions on which the Archimedean screw is disposed are typically triangular in cross section; The trilobite cross section of the Archimedes screw thus makes the best use of the space available inside the elongate protrusion.

In another preferred embodiment, referred to herein as a patosteroster configuration, the dispensing flow passage comprises a series of open sections, suitably located in an elongate protrusion, the open sections of the first series being substantially parallel to each other. Formed by an inclined vane and a second series of inclined vanes substantially parallel to each other, the first and second series being disposed along at least a portion of the length of the interior of the elongate protrusion, the vanes of the first series Is arranged in a face-to-face arrangement with respect to the vanes of the second series, the vanes of the first series are not parallel to the vanes of the second series, and the compartments and vanes are the storage means and / or the rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction Or deflect the solid particulate material present in the dispensing flow passage towards the dispensing opening of the elongate protrusion.

In a further preferred embodiment, the dispensing flow passage is opposed so as to deflect the solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or the dispensing flow passage towards the dispensing opening located in the elongate protrusion during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. And an offset tooth surface.

The straight arrangement of the dispensing flow path in the elongate protrusion is particularly useful because the elongated protrusion can be made of a plurality of pieces and assembled together to form the dispensing flow path in the elongate protrusion.

In a further preferred embodiment, and the device comprises an elongate protrusion (s) having a dispensing opening positioned at the distal end at its distal end or closer to its distal end than the proximal end, so that the elongated protrusion ( Is configured to deflect the solid particulate material present in the dispensing passage towards the dispensing opening during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction, in particular the device being curved (eg vortex or spiral) elongated. In the case of including the protrusions, the dispensing flow path may simply be a hollow cavity in the elongate protrusions. In this embodiment, the shape of the elongate protrusion and dispensing cavity facilitates the movement of the solid particulate material towards the dispensing opening during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction.

The storage means may take various forms and the drum may comprise storage means in one or more locations. In a preferred embodiment, the storage means comprises a plurality of compartments, for example two, three, four, five or six compartments, in particular the plurality of compartments being arranged to balance the drum during rotation.

The capacity of the storage means will depend on the size of the drum and the amount of solid particulate material. Preferably, the capacity of the storage means is about 20 to about 50%, preferably about 30 to about 40% greater than the volume of the solid particulate material. Thus, household washing machines will typically require about 8 liters of solid particulate material, and suitable storage means for such machines have a capacity of about 11 liters.

The storage means may be or include at least one cavity located in an elongate protrusion.

In one particularly useful embodiment, the storage means and the elongate protrusions can be assembled together in a drum and / or retrofitted into an existing drum. This arrangement is particularly useful for converting conventional devices that are not suitable or adapted for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate materials to devices suitable for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate materials. In this embodiment, the storage means and the elongate protrusions will generally be non-integral elements such that these components can be introduced into the drum without disassembling the entire apparatus. However, integrated storage means and elongate protrusions are also envisaged.

In a further particularly useful embodiment, the storage means and the elongate protrusions are removable and replaceable by the consumer or by a service engineer, such that the solid particulate material contained therein is easily replaced with new solid particulate material as needed. . In this embodiment, the storage means and the elongate protrusions will generally be non-integral elements such that these components can be introduced into the drum without disassembling the entire device. However, integrated storage means and elongate protrusions are also envisaged.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least part (preferably all) of the storage means comprises or comprises at least one cavity located on the end wall of the drum. It will be understood that the term “located in the end wall of the drum” describes a storage means that is integral with, attached to, disposed on, or any part of the structure of the end wall. Thus, in the retrofitting embodiment (for example comprising FIG. 6) described below, the storage means is disposed on or attached to an existing end wall of the existing drum. The outer surface of the retrofitted storage means towards the inside of the drum thus creates a new inner surface, which differs from the original inner surface of the original end wall before retrofitting, but this new inner surface is for the purposes of the present invention of the new end wall of the drum. Treated like the inside That is, the retrofitted storage means becomes part of the element described herein as "end wall of the drum". Similarly, the storage means may also be present on or refurbished on the outer surface of the end wall of the drum facing the casing of the device, and for the purposes of the present invention such storage means are also "located on the end wall of the drum" as Are treated.

Thus, the storage means may be or include at least one spiral or spiral path located at the end wall of the drum.

In another preferred embodiment, the storage means is or comprises a donut cavity located at the junction of the inner surface of the drum and the end wall, or the storage means is formed by a donut segment located at the junction of the inner surface and the end wall. It is or includes a cavity having a shape to be. It will be understood that such storage means are not included within the meaning of “located at the end wall of the drum” as used herein.

The storage means can advantageously comprise a number of parts, preferably 2, 3 or 4 parts, which can be assembled inside the drum and / or which can be retrofitted into an existing drum.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the storage means comprise a plurality of compartments or cavities located on the end wall of the drum as described above. Preferably, each of the compartments in this multi-compartment arrangement each extends substantially radially outward from the rotation axis of the drum towards the inner wall of the drum, preferably the first and second walls extending to the inner wall of the drum. It is formed by a cavity bounded by. The drum is generally cylindrical, so preferably each compartment forms one sector of the cylindrical storage volume substantially at the end wall of the drum. Preferably, each compartment in a multi-compartment arrangement is adjacent to another compartment, so that the compartments preferably form adjacent such sectors that fill or substantially fill the cylindrical storage volume of the end wall of the drum. As used herein, the terms "substantially extend radially outward" and "substantially form a sector" are straight lines in which the first wall and / or the second wall of the cavity form a mathematical radius. That is, it is not necessary to follow a straight line extending radially outward from the axis of rotation towards the inner wall of the drum, preferably from the inner wall, but the first wall and / or the second wall of the cavity are also from the drum's axis of rotation. It means that it is also possible to follow a curved path extending outwardly towards the inner wall of the drum, preferably to the inner wall. Preferably, each compartment of the multiple compartment arrangement is associated with a single distribution flow passage and a single collection flow passage. Preferably, each compartment of the multiple compartment arrangement is associated with a single lifter as described above.

In a multiple compartment embodiment, at least one pair of adjacent compartments is preferably in fluid communication. Preferably, each compartment is in fluid communication with its adjacent compartment or compartments. As used herein, the term "fluid communication" means that any fluid medium as well as solid particulate material can pass from one compartment directly into adjacent compartments or compartments during rotation of the drum. Surprisingly, this arrangement advantageously minimizes or avoids the tendency of agglomeration of the solid particulate material in contact with the liquid medium, ie it minimizes or avoids the tendency of the wet or wet solid particulate material to aggregate or clump together in the storage means. This tendency can lead to at least partial blockage of the collection flow passage and / or the distribution flow passage, in particular the collection flow passage (in particular where the collection flow passage comprises a valve as described below). This arrangement also provides a surprising improvement in the collection efficiency of the solid particulate material. This arrangement advantageously creates more space in the storage means at the point (s) where the storage means meet the collection and / or distribution flow path. This arrangement can also advantageously improve the balance of the drum during rotation. Fluid communication between adjacent compartments is preferably achieved by openings between adjacent compartments, hereinafter referred to as communication openings. Such communication openings preferably exhibit a minimum dimension that is at least 4 times larger than the longest dimension of the solid particulate material. The longest dimension of the communication opening is suitably adapted to maintain the individual characteristics of the compartments, so that the longest dimension of the communication opening is preferably 50% or less, preferably 40% or less, of the longest dimension of the wall between adjacent compartments, It is preferably at most 30%, preferably at most 20%, and typically at most 15%. The communication opening is preferably located in the wall between adjacent compartments approximately in the middle between the axis of rotation and the inner wall of the drum. As used herein, the term "approximately intermediate" means any location along the wall between adjacent sections closer to the midpoint of the wall between adjacent sections than the axis of rotation of the drum or the inner wall of the drum. . For example, when each compartment forms a sector of cylindrical storage volume on the end wall of the drum, the midpoint of the wall between adjacent compartments is half the radius of the drum. Preferably, the communication opening of the wall between adjacent compartments is located at said intermediate point.

Suitably, the storage means in particular allow for the passage of the fluid through the perforations into and out of the storage means from inside the drum, but not to the dimensions of the solid particulate material to prevent the outflow of the solid particulate material through the perforations. It further comprises one or more perforations having small dimensions. The presence of such perforations is advantageous for cleaning of the interior of the storage means and general hygiene.

Optionally, the elongate protrusions described herein have a dimension that is smaller than that of the solid particulate material to allow passage of fluid through the perforation but prevent passage of the solid particulate material through the perforation. The above perforations may further include.

In the apparatus of the present invention, at least part of the collection flow path may be juxtaposed with at least a portion of the distribution flow path, wherein the juxtaposed portion prevents the outflow of the solid particulate material from the storage means through the collection flow path into the drum. It is separated by a deflector wall that helps to prevent and / or assists deflecting the particulates towards the dispensing flow path.

The collecting passage preferably comprises a valve, preferably a one-way flap valve, for preventing the outflow of the solid particulate material from the storage means through the collecting passage into the drum. Advantageously, such a valve ensures that the storage means is filled as efficiently as possible. The flap valve may be biased by a spring and / or mechanically controlled by a cam to prevent the outflow of solid particulate material from the storage means through the collection flow path into the drum. Or may be gravity-operated and include sufficient weight therein.

The dispensing passage is preferably configured to dispense the solid particulate material from the interior dispensing opening when the dispensing opening is on a horizontal plane bisecting the drum axis of rotation, so that the solid particulate material falls onto the substrate (s).

The dimensions of the storage means and the dispensing and collecting flow passages preferably do not have internal dimensions of at least less than twice, more preferably at least less than 3 times, more preferably at least less than 4 times the longest dimension of the solid particulate material. The internal dimensions of the under-flow embodiment described above, the angled channel of the perforated transition rib embodiment, and the series of open compartments of the herringbone embodiment are preferably similarly sized. These dimensions not only prevent clogging but also help maintain particulate flow and its speed.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the rotatably mounted drum is configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the end wall of the drum. In a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the drum is such that the surface of the drum is greater than 0 and less than about 20 °, preferably at least about 1 °, preferably at least about 5 °, preferably 1 to 20 °, preferably with respect to the horizontal plane. Is inclined to form an angle A 'that is 1 to 10 degrees, preferably 5 to 10 degrees. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the drum is inclined downward from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum. Thus, the inner surface of the drum forms a truncated conical surface. The truncated conical surface thus has a diameter smaller than its diameter at the end wall of the drum in front of the device. It will be appreciated that this embodiment is particularly useful when the drum is arranged in the device such that the axis of rotation of the drum is substantially horizontal, for example when the drum and / or the device is non-tiltable. It will further be appreciated that this embodiment is particularly useful in arrangements where the collection flow path includes a collection opening located at its proximal end in an elongate protrusion (or “lifter”).

In the truncated conical embodiment described above, the inner surface of the drum is preferably configured to form at least one collecting channel in the inner surface at the junction of the inner surface of the drum and the end wall. The collecting channel extends at least partially around the periphery of the end wall of the drum. This embodiment is particularly useful in arrangements where the collection flow path includes a collection opening located at its proximal end in an elongate protrusion (or “lifter”), in which the inner surface of the drum is defined by the drum between each elongate protrusion. It is preferably configured to form a collection opening located at the junction of the inner surface and the end wall. The collection channel extends along the junction of the inner and end walls of the drum to the collection opening and is thus configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the collection opening during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. The presence of the at least one collection channel is advantageous because it improves the collection efficiency of the solid particulate material during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction and provides an additional bias towards the collection opening of the solid particulate material during the rotation in the collecting direction. .

In a frusto-conical surface embodiment, the surface is selective for one or more perforations having dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material to allow passage of fluid through the perforations but prevent passage of the solid particulate material through the perforations. It may include.

In a particularly useful embodiment, the truncated conical inner surface can be assembled in a drum and / or retrofitted into an existing drum, especially if the device comprises a drum whose axis of rotation is fixed to a horizontal plane. This embodiment is particularly useful for converting conventional devices that are suitable or not adapted for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate materials to devices suitable for the treatment of substrates with solid particulate materials. Such a truncated conical surface is preferably provided as a plurality of inserts that can be placed on an existing surface (typically a cylindrical surface) of a drum of a conventional device. Such truncated conical surfaces are suitable for use in combination with the retractable storage means and elongate protrusions described above, and will typically be provided as non-integral elements to allow components to be introduced into the drum without disassembling the entire device.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably configured to treat the substrate with a solid particulate material in the presence of a liquid medium and / or one or more treatment formulation (s).

The solid particulate material preferably comprises a plurality of particles. Typically, the number of particles is at least 1000, more typically at least 10,000, and even more typically at least 100,000. Many particles are particularly advantageous for preventing wrinkles of the substrate and / or improving uniformity of treatment or cleaning of the substrate, especially when the substrate is textile.

Preferably, the particles contain about 1 mg to about 1000 mg, or about 1 mg to about 700 mg, or about 1 mg to about 500 mg, or about 1 mg to about 300 mg, preferably at least about 10 mg per particle. Has an average mass of In one preferred embodiment, the particles preferably contain about 1 mg to about 150 mg, or about 1 mg to about 70 mg, or about 1 mg to about 50 mg, or about 1 mg to about 35 mg, or about 10 mg to about 30 mg, or about 12 mg to about 25 mg. In alternative embodiments, the particles are preferably about 10 mg to about 800 mg, or about 20 mg to about 700 mg, or about 50 mg to about 700 mg, or about 70 mg to about 600 mg, or about 20 mg To an average mass of about 600 mg. In one preferred embodiment, the particles have an average mass of about 25 to about 150 mg, preferably about 40 to about 80 mg. In a further preferred embodiment, the particles have an average mass of about 150 to about 500 mg, preferably about 150 to about 300 mg.

The average volume of the particles is preferably about 5 to about 500 mm ³ , about 5 to about 275 mm ³ , about 8 to about 140 mm ³ , or about 10 to about 120 mm ³ , or at least 40 mm ³ , eg For example from about 40 to about 500 mm ³ , or from about 40 to about 275 mm ³ .

The average surface area of the particles is preferably from 10 mm ² to 500 mm ^2, preferably per particle is 10mm ² to 400mm ^2, more preferably from 40 to 200mm ^2, and especially from 50 to 190mm ^2.

The particles preferably have an average particle size of at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, preferably at least 3 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, and preferably at least 5 mm. The particles are preferably 100 mm or less, preferably 70 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, preferably 40 mm or less, preferably 30 mm or less, preferably 20 mm or less, preferably 10 mm or less, and optionally 7 mm or less. Has an average particle size. Preferably, the particles have an average particle size of 1 to 20 mm, more preferably 1 to 10 mm. Particles that provide particularly extended effects over multiple treatment cycles are those having an average particle size of at least 5 mm, preferably 5 to 10 mm. The size is preferably the maximum linear dimension (length). In the case of a sphere, this is equal to the diameter. For non-spherical, this corresponds to the longest linear dimension. The size is preferably determined using Vernier callipers. The average particle size is preferably a number average. Determination of the average particle size is preferably carried out by measuring the particle size of at least 10, more preferably at least 100 particles, in particular at least 1000 particles. The aforementioned particle sizes provide particularly good performance (particularly cleaning performance) while allowing the particles to easily separate from the substrate at the end of the treatment method.

The particles are preferably more than 1 g / cm ³ , more preferably more than 1.1 g / cm ³ , more preferably more than 1.2 g / cm ³ , even more preferably at least 1.25 g / cm ³ , even more preferably Has an average particle density of greater than 1.3 g / cm ³ , even more preferably greater than 1.4 g / cm ³ . Particles preferably have an average particle density of 3g / cm ³ or less, and particularly 2.5g / cm ³ or less. Preferably, the particles have an average density of 1.2 to 3 g / cm ³ . These densities are advantageous to further improve the degree of mechanical action that can assist the treatment process and allow for better separation of particles from the substrate after treatment.

Particles of the solid particulate material may be polymerizable and / or nonpolymerizable particles. Suitable nonpolymerizable particles can be selected from metal, alloy, ceramic and glass particles. However, preferably the particles of solid particulate material are polymerizable particles.

Preferably, the particles comprise a thermoplastic polymer. By thermoplastic polymer as used herein is meant a material that preferably becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled. This is distinguished from thermosetting resins (eg rubbers) that do not soften upon heating. More preferred thermoplastics are those that can be used for hot melt compounding and extrusion.

The polymer preferably has a water solubility of up to 1 wt%, preferably up to 0.1 wt% in water, most preferably the polymer is insoluble in water. Preferably, solubility tests are performed while water is at temperatures of pH 7 and 20 ° C. Solubility testing is preferably performed over a period of 24 hours. The polymer is preferably not degraded. The term "not degraded" means that the polymer is stable in water without exhibiting a pronounced tendency to dissolve or hydrolyze. For example, the polymer does not exhibit a pronounced tendency to dissolve or hydrolyze over a period of 24 hours at temperatures of pH 7 and 20 ° C. Preferably, the polymer tends to dissolve or hydrolyze when up to about 1 wt%, preferably up to about 0.1 wt%, under the conditions defined above, is dissolved or hydrolyzed or if no polymer is dissolved or hydrolyzed. Does not indicate.

The polymer may be crystalline or amorphous or a mixture thereof.

The polymer may be linear, branched or partially cross-linked (preferably, the polymer is still thermoplastic in nature), more preferably the polymer is linear.

The polymers are preferably polyalkylenes, polyamides, polyesters or polyurethanes, preferably from polyalkylenes, polyamides and polyesters, preferably from polyamides and polyalkylenes, preferably poly Or include copolymers from amides and / or mixtures thereof.

Preferred polyalkylene is polypropylene.

Preferred polyamides are or include aliphatic or aromatic polyamides, more preferably aliphatic polyamides. Preferred polyamides are those comprising aliphatic chains, in particular C ₄ -C ₁₆ , C ₄ -C ₁₂ and C ₄ -C ₁₀ aliphatic chains. Preferred polyamides are nylon or include nylon. Preferred nylons are nylon 4,6, nylon 4,10, nylon 5, nylon 5,10, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 6 / 6,6, nylon 6,6 / 6,10, nylon 6,10, Nylon 6,12, nylon 7, nylon 9, nylon 10, nylon 10,10, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 12,12 and copolymers or mixtures thereof. Of these, nylon 6, nylon 6,6 and nylon 6,10, in particular nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 and copolymers or mixtures thereof are preferred. It will be understood that these nylon grade polyamides are not degradable and the word degradable is preferably as defined above.

Suitable polyesters are aliphatic or aromatic and are preferably derived from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and C ₁ -C ₆ , preferably C ₂ -C ₄ aliphatic diols. Preferably, the aromatic dicarboxylic acid is selected from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 1,4-, 2,5-, 2,6- and 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, preferably terephthalic acid or 2 , 6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, most preferably terephthalic acid. Aliphatic diols are preferably ethylene glycol or 1,4-butanediol. Preferred polyesters are selected from polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate. Useful polyesters may have a molecular weight corresponding to inherent viscosity measurements in the range of about 0.3 to about 1.5 dl / g as measured by solution techniques such as ASTM D-4603.

Preferably, the polymer particles comprise fillers, preferably inorganic fillers, suitably inorganic mineral fillers in particulate form such as BaSO ₄ . The filler is preferably in the particles in an amount of at least 5 wt%, more preferably at least 10 wt%, even more preferably at least 20 wt%, even more preferably at least 30 wt%, especially at least 40 wt%, relative to the total weight of the particles. exist. Fillers are typically 90 wt% or less, more preferably 85 wt% or less, even more preferably 80 wt% or less, even more preferably 75 wt% or less, especially 70 wt% or less, more particularly 65 wt% or less, relative to the total weight of the particles Most particularly in the amount of up to 60 wt%. The weight percentage of the filler is preferably established by ashing. Preferred ashing methods include ASTM D2584, D5630 and ISO 3451, preferably the test method is performed according to ASTM D5630. For any standard mentioned in the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the final version of the standard is the latest version prior to the priority filing date of this patent application. Preferably, the matrix of the polymer optionally comprising filler (s) and / or other additives extends over the entire volume of the particles.

The particles can be spherical or substantially spherical, elliptical, cylindrical or cubic. Particles with shapes that are intermediate between these shapes are also possible. The best results for the combined treatment performance (particularly the cleaning performance) and the separation performance (separating the substrate from the particles after the treatment step) are typically observed with elliptical particles. Spherical particles tend to separate best but may not provide optimal treatment or cleaning performance. In contrast, cylindrical or cubic particles do not separate well but are effectively treated or cleaned. Spherical and elliptical particles are less abrasive and are particularly useful when improved fabric management is important. Spherical or elliptical particles are particularly useful in the present invention designed to operate without a particle pump and the transfer of particles between the storage means and the interior of the drum is facilitated by the rotation of the drum.

The term "spherical" as used herein includes spherical and substantially spherical particles. Preferably, the particles are not completely spherical. Preferably, the particles have an average aspect ratio of greater than 1, more preferably greater than 1.05, even more preferably greater than 1.07, in particular greater than 1.1. Preferably, the particles have an average aspect ratio of less than 5, preferably less than 3, preferably less than 2, preferably less than 1.7, preferably less than 1.5. The average is preferably a number average. The averaging is preferably performed at least 10, more preferably at least 100 particles, in particular at least 1000 particles. The aspect ratio for each particle is preferably given by the ratio of the longest linear dimension divided by the shortest linear dimension. It is preferably measured using vernier calipers. If a good balance between treatment performance (particularly cleaning performance) and substrate management is desired, the average aspect ratio is preferably within the above mentioned values. If the particles have a very low aspect ratio (eg very spherical particles), the particles may not provide sufficient mechanical action for good processing or cleaning properties. If the particles have too high aspect ratios, removal of the particles from the substrate may be more difficult and / or excessively high wear of the substrate may result in unwanted damage to the substrate, especially when the substrate is textile.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method of treating a substrate is provided, the method comprising stirring the substrate with a solid particulate material in an apparatus as described herein.

Preferably, in the process of the invention, the solid particulate material is reused in further processing procedures.

Preferably the method further comprises the step of separating the particles from the treated substrate. The particles are preferably stored in storage means for use in the next treatment procedure.

Preferably, the method includes rotating the drum a plurality of times in the dispensing direction, and further comprising rotating the drum a plurality of times in the collecting direction.

It will be appreciated that during the step of stirring the substrate together with the solid particulate material, the drum can be rotated many times in the dispensing direction and can also be rotated many times in the collecting direction. Rotation in both directions during the stirring step may be desirable to facilitate circulation of the solid particulate material through the drum and the storage means. However, preferably the stirring step comprises more revolutions in the dispensing direction than in the collecting direction.

It will also be appreciated that during the step of separating particles from the treated substrate, the drum can rotate many times in the collecting direction and also multiple times in the dispensing direction. Rotation in both directions during the separation step may be advantageous to facilitate better separation of the solid particulate material from the treated substrate. However, preferably, the separating step includes more rotations in the collecting direction than in the dispensing direction.

The method preferably comprises stirring the substrate with the solid particulate material and the liquid medium. Preferably, the method comprises stirring the substrate with the solid particulate material and the treatment formulation. Preferably, the method comprises stirring the substrate with the solid particulate material, liquid medium and one or more treatment agent (s).

The method may include an additional step of rinsing the treated substrate. Rinsing is preferably performed by adding a rinsing liquid medium to the treated substrate, optionally comprising one or more post-treatment additives. The rinsing liquid medium is preferably an aqueous medium as defined herein.

Thus, preferably, the method is a method of processing a plurality of batches, one batch comprising at least one substrate, the method comprising stirring the first batch with the solid particulate material, wherein Way:

(a) collecting said solid particulate material in a storage means;

(b) stirring a second batch comprising at least one substrate with the solid particulate material collected from step (a); And

(c) optionally, repeating steps (a) and (b) for subsequent batch (es) comprising at least one substrate.

The treatment procedure of an individual batch typically includes stirring the batch with the solid particulate material in the treatment apparatus during the treatment cycle. The treatment cycle typically comprises one or more separate processing step (s), optionally one or more rinsing step (s), one or more step (s) for selectively separating particles from the treated batch, and optionally a liquid medium from the treated batch. Removing one or more extraction step (s), optionally one or more drying step (s), and optionally processed batches from the device.

In the process of the invention, steps (a) and (b) are at least once, preferably at least two times, preferably at least three times, preferably at least five times, preferably at least ten times, preferably It may be repeated at least 20 times, preferably at least 50 times, preferably at least 100 times, preferably at least 200 times, preferably at least 300 times, preferably at least 400 times or preferably at least 500 times.

The substrate may be or include a textile and / or animal skin substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is or comprises a textile. Textiles may be in the form of articles of clothing such as coats, jackets, pants, shirts, skirts, dresses, jumpers, wonderwear, hats, scarves, overalls, shorts, swimwear, socks and suits. The textile may also be in the form of a bag, belt, curtain, rug, blanket, sheet or furniture cover. The textile may also be in the form of a panel, sheet or roll of material that is later used to prepare the final article or articles. The textile may be or include synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or a combination thereof. Textiles can include natural fibers that have undergone one or more chemical modifications. Examples of natural fibers include hair (eg wool), silk and cotton. Examples of synthetic textile fibers include nylon (eg, nylon 6,6), acrylics, polyesters, and mixtures thereof. As used herein, the term "animal skin substrate" includes skin, hide, felt, leather, and wool. Typically, the skin substrate of an animal is leather or felt. The hides or felts may be processed or raw animal skin substrates.

The treatment of a substrate which is or comprises a textile according to the invention may be a cleaning process or any other such as coloring (preferably dyeing), aging or polishing (for example, stone-washing, bleaching or other finishing processes). Stonewashing is a known method of providing textiles having "weary" or "stonewashed" properties such as a faint appearance, softer feel and greater flexibility. Preferably, the treatment of the substrate, which is or comprises textiles, is a cleaning process, which may be a household or industrial cleaning process.

As used herein, the term “treatment” for the treatment of animal skin substrates is preferably a tanning process, preferably pigmented and tanned and cured, beamhouse treatment, pre-tanning, tanning , Related tanning processes selected from re-tanning, fat liquoring, enzyme treatment, tawing, crusting, dyeing and dye fixation, preferably Beamhouse treatments are soaking, liming, deliming, remineralizing, hair loss, fleshing, batting, degreasing, scudding, pickling and depickling (depickling). Preferably, treatment of animal skin substrates is a process used for the production of leather. Preferably, the treatment acts to deliver a tanning agent (including colorants or other agents used in the tanning process) onto or into the animal skin substrate.

The therapeutic formulation referred to herein may include one or more treatment agent (s) suitable to achieve the desired treatment of the substrate.

Thus, the process according to the invention, which is a cleaning process, suitably comprises stirring the substrate together with the solid particulate material, the liquid medium and the one or more treatment agent (s), wherein the treatment agent preferably comprises a surfactant, Detergents comprising one or more of dye delivery inhibitors, enhancers, enzymes, metal chelating agents, biocides, solvents, stabilizers, acids, bases, and emollients.

Similarly, the treatment formulation of the coloring process is preferably a composition comprising one or more dyes, pigments, optical bleach and mixtures thereof.

Treatment formulations of the stonewashing process may include suitable stonewashing agents known in the art, for example enzyme treatments such as cellulase.

Treatment formulations of the tanning process suitably include one or more agent (s) selected from tanning agents, refinishing agents and tanning process agents. The treatment formulation may comprise one or more colorant (s). Tanning or retanning agents are preferably selected from synthetic tanning agents, vegetable tanning agents or vegetable tanning agents and mineral tanning agents such as chromium (III) salts or salts and complexes containing iron, zirconium, aluminum and titanium do. Suitable synthetic tanning agents include amino resins, polyacrylates, fluoro and / or silicone polymers and formaldehyde condensation polymers based on phenol, urea, melamine, naphthalene, sulfone, cresol, bisphenol A, naphthol and / or biphenyl ether groups do. Vegetable tanning agents typically include tannins, which are polyphenols. Vegetable tanning agents can be obtained from plant leaves, roots and especially bark. Examples of vegetable tanning agents include extracts of bark from chestnut, oak, oak, yellow lacquer tree, hemlock, kebracho, mangroves, lath acacia, and mirovalan. Suitable mineral tanning agents include chromium compounds, especially chromium salts and complexes, typically in the chromium (III) oxidation state, such as chromium (III) sulfate. Other tanning agents include aldehydes (glyoxal, glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde), phosphonium salts, metal compounds other than chromium (eg iron, titanium, zirconium and aluminum compounds). Preferably, the tanning agent is substantially free of chromium-containing compounds.

One or more substrates may be processed simultaneously by the method of the present invention. The exact number of substrates will depend on the size of the substrate and the capacity of the device used.

The total weight of dry substrates processed at the same time (ie in a single batch or laundry) can be up to 50,000 kg. For textile substrates, the total weight is typically from 1 to 500 kg, more typically from 1 to 300 kg, more typically from 1 to 200 kg, more typically from 1 to 100 kg, even more typically from 2 to 50 kg, in particular 2 to 30 kg. For animal substrates, the total weight is typically at least about 50 kg and at most about 50,000 kg, typically about 500 to about 30,000 kg, about 1000 kg to about 25,000 kg, about 2000 to 20,000 kg, or about 2500 to about May be 10,000 kg.

Preferably the liquid medium is an aqueous medium, ie the liquid medium is water or comprises water. At increasing priority, the liquid medium comprises at least 50 wt%, at least 60 wt%, at least 70 wt%, at least 80 wt%, at least 90 wt%, at least 95 wt%, and at least 98 wt%. The liquid medium may optionally include one or more organic liquids including, for example, alcohols, glycols, glycol ethers, amides and esters. Preferably, the sum of all organic liquids present in the liquid medium is at most 10 wt%, more preferably at most 5 wt%, even more preferably at most 2 wt%, in particular at most 1%, most particularly the medium is substantially organic liquid. Does not have

The liquid medium preferably has a pH of 3 to 13. The pH or treatment liquid can be different at various times, points or steps in the treatment method according to the invention. Higher pH provides improved performance (particularly cleaning performance), but it may be desirable to treat (particularly clean) the substrate under alkaline pH conditions because it may be less beneficial for some substrates. Thus, it may be desirable for the liquid medium to have a pH of 7 to 13, more preferably 7 to 12, even more preferably 8 to 12, in particular 9 to 12. In a further preferred embodiment, the pH is from 4 to 12, preferably from 5 to 10, in particular from 6 to 9 and most particularly from 7 to 9 to improve fabric care. It may also be desirable for the treatment of one or more specific step (s) of the substrate or treatment process to be performed under acidic pH conditions. For example, certain steps in the treatment of animal skin substrates are typically less than 6.5, even more typically less than 6 and most typically less than 5.5, and typically at least 1, more typically at least 2, It is advantageous to run at a pH which is typically at least 3. Certain fabric or garment finishing methods, such as stonewashing, may also utilize one or more acidic step (s). Acids and / or bases may be added to obtain the above pH values. Preferably, the aforementioned pH is maintained for at least a portion of the stirring period, and in some preferred embodiments for all of the period. Mitigators can be used to prevent the pH of the liquid medium from drifting during the treatment.

Preferably, the weight ratio of liquid medium to dry substrate is 20: 1 or less, more preferably 10: 1 or less, in particular 5: 1 or less, more particularly 4.5: 1 or less, even more particularly 4: 1 or less, most particularly 3 : 1 or less. Preferably, the weight ratio of liquid medium to dry substrate is at least 0.1: 1, more preferably at least 0.5: 1, in particular at least 1: 1. In the present invention, while using surprisingly small amounts of liquid medium, still achieving good treatment performance (especially detergency), environmentally friendly in terms of water use, wastewater treatment and the energy required to heat or cool the water to the desired temperature. Has an advantage.

Preferably, the ratio of particles to dry substrate is at least 0.1, in particular at least 0.5, more in particular at least 1: 1 w / w. Preferably, the ratio of particle to dry substrate is at most 30: 1, more preferably at most 20: 1, in particular at most 15: 1, more particularly at most 10: 1 w / w. Preferably, the ratio of particles to dry substrate is 0.1: 1 to 30: 1, more preferably 0.5: 1 to 20: 1, especially 1: 1 to 15: 1 w / w, more particularly 1: 1 to 10 : 1w / w.

The treatment method agitates the substrate in the presence of a solid particulate material. Agitation can be in the form of shaking, stirring, spraying, and tumbling. Of these, tumbling is particularly preferred. Preferably, the substrate and solid particulate material are introduced into a drum that is rotated to cause tumbling. The rotation may be such as to provide a centripetal force of 0.05 to 1G, in particular 0.05 to 0.7G. The centripetal force is preferably calculated at the inner wall of the drum furthest from the axis of rotation.

The solid particulate material may be in contact with the substrate and may be properly mixed with the substrate during stirring.

Agitation can be continuous or intermittent. Preferably, the method is carried out for a period of 1 minute to 10 hours, more preferably 5 minutes to 3 hours, even more preferably 10 minutes to 2 hours.

The treatment method is preferably above 0 ° C to about 95 ° C, preferably 5 to 95 ° C, preferably at least 10 ° C, preferably at least 15 ° C, preferably 90 ° C or less, preferably 70 ° C or less, Preferably it is carried out at a temperature of 50 ° C. or less, 40 ° C. or less or 30 ° C. or less. This mild temperature allows the particles to provide the aforementioned benefits over a greater number of treatment cycles. Preferably, when several batches or laundry are processed or cleaned, all treatment or cleaning cycles are at most 95 ° C, more preferably at most 90 ° C, even more preferably at most 80 ° C, in particular at most 70 ° C, more particularly Below 60 ° C., most particularly below 50 ° C. and above 0 ° C., preferably at least 5 ° C., preferably at least 10 ° C., preferably at least 15 ° C., preferably above 0 to 50 ° C., above 0 to 40 ° C., Or greater than 0 to 30 ° C, and advantageously at 15 to 50 ° C, 15 to 40 ° C or 15 to 30 ° C. This lower temperature allows the particles to provide benefits for a greater number of treatment or cleaning cycles.

It will be appreciated that the duration and temperature described above are associated with the treatment of an individual batch comprising at least one of the substrate (s).

Stirring the substrate together with the solid particulate material suitably takes place in one or more separate processing step (s) of the processing cycles described above. Thus, the duration and temperature conditions described above are preferably associated with stirring the substrate (s) together with the solid particulate material, ie with said one or more separate processing step (s) of the aforementioned treatment cycle.

Preferably, the method is a method of cleaning a substrate, preferably a laundry cleaning method, preferably a substrate or a substrate. Thus, preferably the batch is laundry. Preferably, the laundry comprises at least one contaminated substrate, preferably the contaminated substrate is or comprises a contaminated textile. Contaminants can be in the form of dust, dirt, food, beverages, animal products such as sweat, blood, urine, feces, plant material such as grass, ink and paint, for example. The procedure for cleaning individual laundry typically includes stirring the laundry with the solid particulate material in the cleaning apparatus during the cleaning cycle. The cleaning cycle typically separates cleaning particles from one or more separate cleaning step (s) and optionally one or more post-cleaning step (s), optionally one or more rinsing step (s), optionally washed laundry. One or more step (s), optionally one or more extraction step (s) to remove the liquid medium from the washed laundry, optionally one or more drying step (s), and optionally washed laundry from the cleaning apparatus. Removing.

If the method is a cleaning method, the substrate is preferably stirred with the solid particulate material, liquid medium, and preferably also with the detergent composition. The detergent composition may comprise any one or more of surfactants, dye transfer inhibitors, enhancers, enzymes, metal chelating agents, biocides, solvents, stabilizers, acids, bases, and emollients. In particular, the detergent composition may comprise one or more enzyme (s).

If the method is a cleaning method, optional post-treatment additives that may be present in the rinse liquid medium include optical bleach, perfume and fabric softener.

In a further aspect of the invention, converting a device not suitable for use in the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material to a device according to the invention and defined above for use in the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material. A kit is provided, the apparatus comprising a housing having a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall mounted therein and further comprising access means for introducing the substrate into the drum, the kit being solid Particulate material, storage means for storage of said solid particulate material, a dispensing flow path that facilitates flow of said solid particulate material from said storage means into said drum, and said storage of solid particulate material from said interior of said drum; A collecting flow passage that facilitates flowing into the means, the distribution oil And the collection flow path is a different flow path, wherein the kit is configured to permit the placement of the storage means and the storage and distribution flow path to at least one inner surface (s) of the drum.

Advantageously, said kit comprises storage means for storage of said solid particulate material, at least one elongate protrusion, and solid particulate material, said kit comprising said storage means and said elongate protrusion (s) in one of said drums. A dispensing flow path that permits the drum to adhere to the above inner surface (s) to facilitate the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means to the interior of the drum and the solid particulate from the interior of the drum to the storage means. Configured to include a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of material, the distribution flow path and the collection flow path being different flow paths, the collection flow path including a collection opening located at its proximal end in an elongate protrusion, The dispensing flow path is closer to its distal end or closer to its distal end than the proximal end in the elongate protrusion. And a location distribution opening.

Preferably, the kit is configured to allow attachment of the truncated conical surface to the inner surface of the drum such that the truncated conical surface is inclined in a downward direction from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum. Further comprising a truncated conical surface, wherein the truncated conical surface is configured to form at least one collection channel at an inner surface at the junction of the drum's inner surface and the end wall, the collection channel having an inner wall and an end wall of the drum. Extending along the junction to the collection opening and thus deflecting the solid particulate material towards the collection opening during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of constructing an apparatus according to the invention and as defined above, which is suitable for use in the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material, said method comprising a substrate with a solid particulate material Retrofitting a starting device, which is not suitable for use in the treatment of a substrate, includes a housing in which a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall is mounted, and further comprising access means for introducing the substrate into the drum. Wherein the retrofit step comprises:

(i) Providing a solid flow path for providing solid particulate material, providing one or more storage means for storage of the solid particulate material, facilitating the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum, and Providing a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of the particulate material from the interior of a drum to the storage means, wherein the distribution flow path and the collection flow path are different flow paths; And

(ii) Disposing said storage means and said dispensing and collecting flow path on one or more inner surface (s) of the drum.

Preferably, the retrofit step is:

(i) Providing at least one storage means, at least one elongate protrusion and a solid particulate material; And

(ii) The drum including a distribution flow passage for facilitating the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means to the interior of the drum and a collection flow path for facilitating the flow of the particulate material from the interior of the drum to the storage means; Attaching the storage means and the elongate protrusion (s) to one or more inner surface (s) of the drum, wherein the dispensing flow path and the collecting flow path are different flow paths, and the collecting flow path is at its proximal end at the elongated protrusion. A collecting opening positioned, wherein the dispensing flow passage comprises an attachment step comprising a dispensing opening positioned at its distal end or closer to its distal end than its proximal end at the elongate protrusion.

Preferably, the retrofitting step preferably provides a truncated conical surface in the form of a plurality of sections or inserts, and the truncated conical surface is inclined in a downward direction from the front of the drum to the end wall of the drum. Attaching the truncated conical surface. Preferably, the truncated conical surface is configured to form at least one collection channel in the inner surface at the junction of the drum's inner surface and the end wall, the collection channel extending along the junction of the drum's inner surface and the end wall to the collection opening. And thus deflects the solid particulate material towards the collecting opening during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction.

The invention is further illustrated with reference to the following figures.

1 shows a section of the device showing the end wall 1 of the drum with the storage means 2 arranged therein. The first elongate protrusion 3a comprises a dispensing opening 4 at its distal end and a dispensing passage 5 configured as an Archimedes screw.
2 shows a larger portion of the drum showing the first elongate protrusion and the second elongate protrusion 3b.
3 shows the area of the device in which the elongate protrusion 3a meets the end wall 1 of the drum with the storage means arranged therein. The solid particulate material is drawn into the storage means through the collecting passage 6 and the collecting opening 7. A part of the deflector wall 8 separates the collection flow passage 6 from the distribution flow passage 5.
FIG. 4 shows in more detail the arrangement of the distribution flow passage 5, the collection flow passage 6 and the deflector wall 8 from the opposite side with respect to FIG. 3. Part of the elongate protrusion 3a is also shown. The one-way flap valve 9 prevents the outflow of solid particulate material from the storage means through the collection path into the drum.
5 shows the collecting opening 7 at the proximal end of the elongate protrusion 3a in the end wall 1 of the drum.
FIG. 6 shows a larger perspective view of the end wall 1 of the drum comprising storage means in three sections 1a, 1b and 1c allowing the retrofit to an existing drum. The figure also shows the elongate protrusions 3a, 3b and 3c.
FIG. 7 shows the elongated protrusions 3a, 3b and 3c disposed on the end wall 1 of the drum including the storage means therein and on the cylindrical inner surface 10 of the drum.
8 shows a specific element of the rotatable drum 12, which is located in the housing 11 with an end wall 1 and a cylindrical inner surface 10, the interior of which is accessed by an access means 13, The drum is connected to a drive shaft 14 from drive means (not shown) to achieve rotation of the drum.
FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of FIG. 8 in which the storage means 2 is arranged on or retrofits onto an existing end wall 1 of the drum.
10 and 11 show an arrangement with a plurality of storage means 2a, 2b and a plurality of elongate protrusions 3a, 3b.
12, 13 and 14 show an elongate protrusion 3d having a parternoster configuration described herein, wherein the dispensing flow paths are inclined substantially parallel vanes 16a, b of the first series and A series of open sections 15a, b formed by a second series of inclined substantially parallel vanes 17a, b. 14 shows the elongated protrusions and dispensing flow passages in hidden form.
FIG. 15 shows multi-compartment storage means located in the end wall of the drum as described above comprising compartments 18a, 18b and 18c. Each compartment is in fluid communication with an adjacent compartment via communication openings 19a, 19b and 19c. Each compartment is associated with a single lifter 20a and 20c (lifter 20b is not shown), and each compartment is shown for a single distribution flow passage 5a and a single collection flow passage 6a (compartment 18a only). Is associated with the
FIG. 16 shows a cross section of the drum having an alternative truncated conical surface 21 which slopes downward from the front of the drum 22 to the end wall of the drum 23.
17 shows a section 24 of a truncated conical surface suitable for retrofitting into a conventional apparatus for converting a drum having a cylindrical inner surface into a drum having a truncated conical inner surface. This truncated conical surface section is suitable as an insert for positioning between an elongate protrusion (or “lifter”; not shown) disposed on the inner surface of the drum (not shown).
18 shows the underside of an elongate protrusion 25 of the herringbone embodiment. The plurality of collecting holes 26a, 26b, 26c are disposed on the first side 27 of the elongate protrusion (ie, the tip side of the elongate protrusion during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction). The vanes 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d and 29e of the first series are arranged to form the U shapes 28a and 28b of the first series, and the vanes 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d and 31e of the second series. Is arranged to form a second series of U shapes 30a, 30b, 30c, and the vanes and U shapes of the first and second series are in opposing, interlocking but non-contacting, and staggered arrangements. To form a series of open compartments that provide a winding path from the collection opening to the collection flow path and storage means (not shown).

Claims (70)

Apparatus for use in the treatment of a substrate by a solid particulate material, the apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing in which a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall is mounted therein; And
(b) access means for introducing the substrate into the drum,
Wherein said drum comprises storage means for storage of said solid particulate material and a plurality of flow paths for facilitating flow of said solid particulate material between said storage means and the interior of said drum,
The drum includes a distribution flow passage that facilitates the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum, and a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of the particulate material from the interior of the drum to the storage means. And wherein the distribution flow path and the collection flow path are different flow paths. The flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means towards the interior of the drum is facilitated by the rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction and / or of the solid particulate material from the interior of the drum towards the storage means. The flow is facilitated by the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction and the rotation in the dispensing direction is in the direction of rotation opposite the rotation in the collecting direction. 3. The dispensing flow path and / or the storage means according to claim 2, wherein at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten in the dispensing direction to initiate the release of solid particulate material into the drum. Device configured to rotate once. The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not comprise additional storage means not attached to or integral with the drum, and / or the device stores the solid particulate material between the storage means and the interior of the drum. Devices that do not include a pump for circulation in the The device of claim 1, wherein the device does not comprise a pump for circulating the solid particulate material. The collection flow path of claim 1, wherein the collection flow path comprises a collection opening, the drum configured to deflect the solid particulate material present in the drum towards the collection opening during rotation of the drum in the collection direction. Device. 7. The dispensing passage according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dispensing passage comprises a dispensing opening, the drum disposing a solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or the dispensing passage during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. And configured to deflect toward. 8. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the drum has at least one elongate protrusion located on the inner surface of the drum, the elongate protrusion extending in a direction away from the end wall, preferably. Wherein the drum comprises two, three, four, five, or six elongated protrusions. 9. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the drum has at least one elongate protrusion located on the inner surface of the drum, the elongate protrusion extending in a direction away from the end wall and preferably. Extending from the end wall, wherein the elongate protrusion has an end close to the end wall and an end far from the end wall. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collection flow path comprises a collection opening located at its proximal end in the elongate protrusion. The dispensing flow passage of claim 9 or 10, wherein the dispensing flow passage is at least approximately at the elongate projection at its distal end, closer to its distal end than its proximal end or from its proximal end to its distal end. Or an elongated protrusion having a plurality of dispensing openings spaced along the length of the elongated protrusion from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongated protrusion. 12. The apparatus of any one of claims 9-11, wherein the dispensing flow path is located at at least a portion of the elongate protrusion. 13. The drum according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the drum and / or the at least one elongate protrusion is directed towards the collecting flow path, in particular at the end, for collecting solid particulate material present in the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. And configured to deflect towards the wall. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one elongate protrusion is curved and configured to deflect the solid particulate material toward a collection opening located at its proximal end in the elongate protrusion during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. . The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one elongate protrusion is straight. 16. The apparatus of any of claims 9-15, wherein the axis of the drum is substantially horizontal. 16. The drum according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein for at least part of the treatment, the drum forms an angle A whose axis is greater than 0 and less than about 10 ° with respect to the horizontal plane and the drum is from the front of the drum. And tilted to tilt in a downward direction to the end wall of the drum. 18. The elongated protrusion of claim 9, wherein the elongate protrusion comprises one or more collection opening (s) disposed on the first side at one or more position (s) from its proximal end to the distal end, The first side of the elongate protrusion is the tip side of the cleaning protrusion in the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, and the collecting opening (s) is located at the base or underside of the elongate protrusion and collects the solid particulate material during the rotation of the drum. And an apparatus in fluid communication with the collection flow path through the series of open compartments configured to deflect toward the storage means. 19. The solid particulate material according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein the storage means and / or the at least one elongate protrusion is adapted to retain solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or the dispensing passage during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. Configured to deflect at the at least one elongate protrusion toward the dispensing opening located at its distal end or closer to its distal end than at its proximal end or at least approximately midway of the elongate protrusion from its proximal end to the distal end. Device. 20. The apparatus of any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein the dispensing flow path comprises an Archimedean screw arrangement located on an elongated protrusion. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cross section of the Archimedean screw is of circular, tri-lobal or other multilobal configuration. 20. The dispensing vane of any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein the dispensing flow passage comprises a series of open compartments located in an elongated protrusion, the open compartments being inclined vanes of a first series substantially parallel to one another. A second series of substantially parallel inclined vanes, wherein the first and second series are disposed along at least a portion of the length of the interior of the elongate protrusion, and the vanes of the first series The vanes of the first series are not parallel to the vanes of the second series, and the compartments and vanes are present in the storage means and / or the distribution flow path during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction. Solid particulate material may be disposed in said at least one elongate protrusion at its distal end or closer to its distal end than at its proximal end or at the proximal end of the elongate protrusion. From devices configured to pyeonghyang towards the dispensing aperture being located in at least approximately the middle of the elongate projections to its distal end. 20. The dispensing passage according to any one of claims 9 to 19, wherein the dispensing passage displaces solid particulate material present in the storage means and / or dispensing passage during rotation of the drum in the dispensing direction at the distal end of the at least one elongate protrusion. An apparatus comprising opposing and offset toothed surfaces configured to deflect a dispensing opening positioned at or near the distal end of the distal end or at least approximately midway of the elongated protrusion from the proximal end to the distal end thereof; . The device according to claim 9, wherein the storage means is or comprises at least one cavity located in an elongate protrusion. The solid particulate material according to claim 8, wherein the storage means and the elongate protrusions can be assembled inside the drum, and / or can be retrofitted into an existing drum, and / or housed therein. Removable and replaceable device for replacement with this new solid particulate material. 26. The drum according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surface of the drum is attached or integrally formed with the guide element to deflect the solid particulate material towards the end wall of the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Device to be textured or contoured. 27. The drum of claim 26, wherein the drum comprises a plurality of elongate protrusions located on the inner surface of the drum, the elongate protrusions extending in a direction away from the end wall and preferably extending from the end wall. The elongate protrusion has an end close to the end wall and an end far from the end wall, wherein the guide element is adapted to allow the rib (s) and / or groove (s) to collect the solid particulate material during the rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. One or more ribs disposed on or in the inner surface of the drum between adjacent elongated protrusions so as to be angularly oriented in a direction away from the front of the elongate protrusions and the adjacent elongated protrusions and the end wall of the drum; Or one or more grooves. 28. The rib of claim 27 wherein the guide element is a rib having a profile configured to retain solid particulate material during deflection towards the end wall of the drum, preferably the edge of the rib, which is the leading edge during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. And a collecting groove extending at least partially along the length of the rib. 27. The drum of claim 26, wherein the guide element is a perforated diverting rib disposed on the inner surface of the drum to extend away from the end wall of the drum and extend in a direction towards the front of the drum, wherein the perforated diverting rib is during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Has a first edge that is a leading edge of and a second edge that is a trailing edge during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction, each of the first and second edges having one or more openings therein, the perforated transition ribs being A plurality of angled channels connecting the opening (s) on the first edge with the opening (s) on the second edge, the exit point from the angled channel of the second edge of the rib into the angled channel of the first edge of the rib. Closer to the end wall of the drum than the inlet point allows the solid particulate material to flow through the perforated diverting ribs so that the solid particulate material is directed to the end wall of the drum during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. Device biased toward. 30. The drum of claim 29, wherein the drum comprises a plurality of elongate protrusions located on the inner surface of the drum, the elongate protrusions extending in a direction away from the end wall and preferably extending from the end wall. The elongate protrusion has an end close to the end wall and an end remote from the end wall, and the one or more perforated diverting rib (s) are disposed on the inner surface of the drum between adjacent elongated protrusions. 31. The storage means according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the storage means comprises a plurality of compartments, for example two, three, four, five or six compartments, in particular the plurality of compartments balancing the drum during rotation. The device is arranged to hold. 32. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the storage means is or comprises at least one cavity located at the end wall of the drum. 33. The storage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage means comprises a plurality of compartments located on the end wall of the drum, each of the compartments from the axis of rotation of the drum towards the inner wall of the drum, preferably the inner wall. An apparatus defined by a cavity bounded by a first wall and a second wall, each extending outwardly, preferably each compartment associated with a single distribution flow passage and a single collection flow passage. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each compartment is in fluid communication with an adjacent compartment or compartments such that any liquid medium as well as solid particulate material can pass directly from one compartment to the adjacent compartment during rotation of the drum. 35. The fluidic communication of claim 34, wherein fluid communication between adjacent compartments is achieved by communication openings in the wall between adjacent compartments, preferably the communication openings exhibit a minimum dimension that is at least four times greater than the longest dimension of the solid particulate material, Preferably the maximum dimension of the communication opening is 50% or less of the longest dimension of the wall between adjacent compartments, preferably the communication opening is the midpoint of the wall between the compartments adjacent to the drum's axis of rotation or the inner wall of the drum. A device located in the wall between adjacent compartments at a point closer to it. 33. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage means is or comprises at least one vortex or spiral passage located in the end wall of the drum. 37. A storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 32 or 36, wherein the storage means is or comprises a donut cavity located at the junction of the inner surface and the end wall, or the storage means is formed of the inner surface and the end wall. Or a cavity having a shape formed by a donut segment positioned at the junction. 38. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 32, 36 or 37, wherein the storage means is or comprises at least one cavity located on the inner wall of the drum. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage means allows the passage of fluid into and out of the storage means through the perforations, in particular from the interior of the drum, but with a solid through the perforations. And one or more perforations having dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the solid particulate material to prevent the outflow of particulate material. The storage means according to claim 1, wherein the storage means can be assembled inside the drum and / or can be retrofitted onto an existing drum, preferably two, three or four. Device comprising a part. 41. A valve, preferably one-way flap, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting flow passage prevents the outflow of the solid particulate material from the storage means through the collecting flow passage into the drum. Device comprising a valve. 42. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least part of the collection flow path is juxtaposed with at least a portion of the distribution flow path, and the juxtaposed portion from the storage means through the collection flow path to the interior of the drum. And is separated by a deflector wall to help prevent leakage of the solid particulate material and / or to assist in deflecting the particles towards the distribution path. 43. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing passage is configured to dispense the solid particulate material from the journal opening when the distribution opening is on a horizontal plane that bisects the axis of rotation of the drum. 44. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dimensions of the dispensing and collecting flow path are such that they have no internal dimension that is at least less than two times, more preferably less than at least three times the longest dimension of the solid particulate material. . 45. The drum according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner surface of the rotatably mounted drum is configured to deflect the solid particulate material towards the end wall of the drum, preferably the inner surface being the drum's inner surface. Forming a truncated-conical surface inclined in a downward direction from the front of the drum towards the end wall of the drum, wherein the collection flow path comprises a collection opening located at its proximal end in the elongate protrusion. 46. The drum of claim 45, wherein the inner surface of the drum is configured to form at least one collection channel in the inner surface at the junction of the inner surface and the end wall of the drum, the collection channel extending along the junction of the inner surface and the end wall of the drum to the collection opening. And thus deflects the solid particulate material towards the collection opening during rotation of the drum in the collecting direction. 47. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 46, wherein the inner surface of the drum is larger than the dimension of the solid particulate material to allow passage of fluid into and out of the drum but to prevent the outflow of the solid particulate material. A device comprising a perforation having a small dimension. 48. The housing of claim 47 wherein the housing is a tub surrounding the drum, preferably the tub and the drum are substantially concentric, and preferably the walls of the tub are not perforated but liquid media and / or one or more. At least one inlet and / or at least one outlet suitable for passage into and out of the tub of treatment agent disposed therein. 49. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a seal between the access means and the tub. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drum has an opening at an opposite end of the drum relative to an end wall into which the substrate is introduced into the drum. 51. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 50, wherein said treating said substrate with said solid particulate material is in the presence of a liquid medium and / or one or more treating agent (s). 52. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising the solid particulate material. 53. The method of any one of claims 1-52, wherein the particles of solid particulate material comprise (i) an average mass of about 1 mg to about 1000 mg; And / or (ii) an average volume in the range of about 5 to about 500 mm ³ ; And / or (iii) an average surface area of from 10 mm ² to 500 mm ² per particle; And / or (iv) an average particle size of 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably 5 mm to 10 mm; And / or (v) an average density of at least about 1 g / cm ³ or at least about 1.4 g / cm ³ . The particle of claim 1, wherein the particles of solid particulate comprise a polymer, preferably the polymer is polyalkylene, polyamide, polyester or polyurethane, preferably polyalkylene, poly Esters or polyamides, preferably polyalkylenes selected from polyamides or polypropylenes selected from nylon 6 or nylon 6,6, and preferably polyamides selected from polyamides or nylon 6 or nylon 6,6 Or a device comprising the same. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particles of solid particulates are selected from metal, alloy, ceramic, and glass particles. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particles of solid particulate material are spherical and / or elliptical. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotatable drum is cylindrical. 58. A method of constructing an apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 57 suitable for use in the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material, said method being used for the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material. Retrofitting a starting device, the housing being mounted to a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall, the apparatus further comprising access means for introducing the substrate into the drum. The remodeling step is
(i) providing a solid flow path for providing solid particulate material, providing one or more storage means for storage of the solid particulate material, and facilitating the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum; And providing a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of the particulate matter from the interior of the drum to the storage means, wherein the distribution flow path and the collection flow path are different flow paths; And
(ii) disposing said storage means and said dispensing and collecting flow path on one or more inner surface (s) of a drum,
Preferably the remodeling step is
(i) providing at least one storage means, at least one elongate protrusion and a solid particulate material; And
(ii) a distribution flow path through which the drum facilitates the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum and a collection flow path that facilitates the flow of the particulate material from the interior of the drum into the storage means; Attaching said storage means and said elongate protrusion (s) to one or more inner surface (s) of said drum, wherein said dispensing flow path and said collecting flow path are different flow paths, and said collecting flow path is formed at the elongate protrusions. And a dispensing opening positioned at the proximal end, wherein the dispensing flow passage comprises a dispensing opening positioned at its distal end in the elongated protrusion or closer to its distal end than the proximal end thereof. 58. Converting an apparatus not suitable for use in the treatment of a substrate with a solid particulate material to an apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1-57 suitable for use in the treatment of the substrate with a solid particulate material. A kit comprising a housing in which a rotatably mounted drum having an inner surface and an end wall is mounted therein and further comprising access means for introducing the substrate into the drum,
The kit comprises solid particulate material, storage means for storage of the solid particulate material, a dispensing eurolroll to facilitate the flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum, and the storage from the interior of the drum. A collection flow path for facilitating flow of the particulate material into the means, wherein the distribution flow path and the collection flow path are different flow paths, and the kit includes the storage means and the distribution and collection flow paths at least one inner surface of the drum ( Are configured to allow for placement in
Advantageously, said kit comprises storage means for storage of said solid particulate material, at least one elongate protrusion, and solid particulate material, said kit comprising a drum in which said solid particulate from said storage means into said drum; The storage means on one or more inner surface (s) of the drum to include a distribution flow path for facilitating the flow of material and a collection flow path for facilitating the flow of the particulate material from the interior of the drum to the storage means; Configured to allow attachment of the elongate protrusion (s), wherein the dispensing flow path and the collecting flow path are different flow paths, the collecting flow path including a collection opening located at its proximal end in the elongated protrusion, The flow path is at its distal end at the elongate protrusion or at its distal end rather than its proximal end. A kit comprising a dispensing opening that is to located. Solid particulate material, storage means for storage of the solid particulate material, a distribution flow path for facilitating flow of the solid particulate material from the storage means into the drum, and from the interior of the drum to the storage means A collection flow path for facilitating flow of the particulate material, wherein the distribution flow path and the collection flow path are different flow paths, and the kit connects the storage means and the distribution and collection flow path to one or more inner surface (s) of the drum. A kit as defined in claim 59, wherein the kit comprises the solid particulate material, the storage means, and the dispensing flow path already disposed on one or more inner surface (s) of the drum of the apparatus. A kit that is a replacement of said collection flow path. A method of treating a substrate, the method comprising stirring the substrate in an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 57 together with a solid particulate material. 62. The method of claim 61, wherein the solid particulate material is reused for further processing procedures according to the method. 63. The method of claim 61 or 62, wherein the method is a method of processing a plurality of batches, one batch comprising at least one substrate, the method comprising stirring the first batch with a solid particulate material. Including the method,
(a) collecting said solid particulate material in a storage means;
(b) stirring a second batch comprising at least one substrate with the solid particulate material collected from step (a); And
(c) optionally, repeating steps (a) and (b) for subsequent substrate (s) comprising at least one substrate. 64. The method of any of claims 61-63, wherein the method comprises stirring the substrate with a solid particulate material and a liquid medium, preferably the liquid medium is aqueous. 65. The method of any one of claims 61-64, wherein the method comprises stirring the substrate with the solid particulate material and the treatment formulation. 66. The method of any one of claims 61-65, wherein the substrate is or comprises a textile. 67. The method of claim 66, wherein the treating of the substrate is a cleaning, coloring, bleaching, polishing or aging, or other textile or garment finishing process. The method of claim 67, wherein the substrate is a contaminated substrate. 66. The method of any one of claims 61-65, wherein the substrate is or comprises an animal skin substrate. The method of claim 69, wherein the treatment of the animal skin substrate is a tanning process.

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